Build a house, rebuild lives: back our campaign to help survivors of domestic abuse

A chronic national shortage of safe spaces means a woman desperate to escape is turned away from a refuge every two hours across the country Getty/The Independent)

- MAYA OPPENHEIM

Turning the lock and stepping into your own home should conjure up feelings of familiarity, safety and comfort but for domestic abuse victims, it is a starkly different place. Coming home to an abuser or hearing his key in the door routinely causes dread, distress and panic.

Never knowing when the next psychological, physical or sexual assault will come from is not only exhausting but terrifying. However, a chronic national shortage of safe spaces means a woman desperate to escape is turned away from a refuge every two hours across the country.

The Independent was so astounded by the dearth of provision that we were moved to take action – launching the Brick by Brick campaign alongside leading domestic abuse charity Refuge to raise £300,000 to build a safe house.

The haven will be a proper home in a secret location where women escaping abusive partners, together with their children or pets, can be liberated from their abuser to find security and freedom. In a groundbreaking move, this house will be the first of its kind to cater for an entire family for six months at a time, during which they will receive direct support from Refuge.

And just one £15 donation can lay a brick to build this muchneeded shelter.

Dame Joanna Lumley, Dame Helen Mirren, Olivia Colman and Sir Patrick Stewart are among the star-studded voices backing The Independent’s appeal, calling on people to donate to the cause.